Valve assembly



Feb. 17, 1953 B. B. GILMORE 2,628,569

VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed June 26, 1947 11 ,Il 535255 2o 4o 4436 AT T ORNEY5.

Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE ASSEMBLY Burdette B. Gilmore, Pelham Manor, N'. Yi, as-

signor` to West Disinfecting Company, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application June 26, 1947,.Seria1.No. 757,217

(Cl. S-153) 10' Claims. 1..

This invention relates to, valve assemblies and moreA particularly to a valve assembly for dispensing measured quantities of liquid, whether free-flowing such as liquid soap or more viscous such. as .oil-s.

Itisamongthe objects of this invention to provide av valve assembly that is neat, compact, pleasing in appearance, eflicient in oper-ation and does not readily become out of order, that is simple and inexpensive to construct, that contains.A few parts. and lends itself easily to quantity production, that willv dispense measured quantities of liquid without waste or leakage and thatmay conveniently be disassembled for cleaning. and servicing.

According to the invention the device comprises a. casing havingv alongitudinal bore therethrough with an inlet to a source of liquid and an outlet. A plunger assembly slidably movable in. said. bore controls-both the inletv and' outlet. The plunger assembly has a nose which coacts with thev inlet to effect a seal on the innermost-andv outermost position ofthe plunger assembly, yet which affords a passageway to the source. of. liquid during the intermediate position of' the plunger assembly. An outlet control piston.y is also provided, movable with the plunger assembly, asingle coil spring normally retaining said plunger assembly in inlet and outlet closing position. An air chamber in the top of said casing. has a port leading into. said bore. and a discharge chamber is 'also provided in said. bore dened by thel plunger assembly and' inv communication with said air chamber by Way of. said. bore.

In. the accompanying drawing in which is shownone of'various possible embodiments ofthe several features of theinvention,

Fig. l issa side view of the device connected to a. container,.

Fig.. 2 isa front view of thed evice on a larger scale taken along line 2--2.ofl Fig. l,

Fig. 3' isa cross sectional view of the device on alarger scale taken along line 3--3 ofv Fig. 2, and

Figs. 4and'5are viewssimilar to Fig. 3 showingt'he device in diii'erent stages of operation.

Referring now to the. drawings, the valve assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical casing I"I;which.is'preierably cast in a unitary piece from an appropriate mold and has a bore I2 extending longitudinally therethrough. Atthe front end I3 and the rear end` I4 of the casing LI', the bore is enlargedand internallyy threaded as; atV I5' and I6,A respectively, the enlargedlfront end' of." the boreAV forming. an1 annulary shoulder I I andthe enlarged rear end of the` bore havngan annular flange I8 unitary with theqcasing', dening the inlet I9 to. the valve assembly'. The top of the'V casing' I I has a depression therein over which a closure plat'e`20' is aixed preferablyby soldering to the casing, to form an air chamber having a porto 2I` at the rear thereof' which leads into the bore I2, from which'latt'er the vertical discharge outlet 22" extends' downward through the bottom ofthe casing I I'.

Slidably movable in boreV I2 isa substantially cylindrical plunger assembly 23' c'oi'rlprising a plunger rod 24, a valve body25 and' a valve-'stem 26. Plunger rod 24 has an actuating head 21 at its front end anda reducedportion 28' at its root end 2.9 forming. a shoulder 30. The reduced portion 28` is threaded into and closes the correspondingly threaded end 3| of' a bore 32 extending longitudinally through valve body 25, the latter having reduced portions 33 and 34 at each end thereof,.respectively, forming shoulders 35-and 36. Mounted on saidv reduced portions-33 and 34v andA dening a. discharge. chamber 31 therebetween are plunger piston 38 and. outlet contrclipiston' 39frespectively, of greater diameter than the diameter ofthe valve body andpreferably made of resilient` material. Plunger piston 38` is sandwiched between shoulder 35 and shoulder 30. and thereby retained securely on. reduced portion 33. of the valve body. Outlet. control piston 39 is. retained on reduced portion 34 by valve stem 26, the latter having at one end a shoulder 42 against whichis seated a metal Washer 43y surrounding the externally threaded reduced portion 40. When portion 4l).v is threaded into thecorrespondingly internally threaded end 44 of borer 32r` of the valve. body 25, the piston-39 is sandwiched between washer 43 and shoulder 36.

Valve body 25 has a pair of boresv 45 extending transversely therethrough preferably at right angles to each other and passing across bore 32. into the discharge chamber 31, while. valve stem 26 has a` longitudinal bore 46 at. one end extending through reduced portion thereof andleadinginto-bore32, the op-positel end oi-bore 46having a pair of bores 4-1 which" are at right angles toy each other yand extend. 'transversely through the valve stem across bore 46- therein. The function of bores and'4'l and bores 32and 46. is: to form a channelor passageway for the liquid as. will. hereinafter beset forth.

Valve-stem 26*` has a reduced nose or. plunger stem.48. forming a shoulder 49.. The tip5I)--oft the stem,v 26vr conical. and has an.annular. groove 5I in. juxtaposition theretowhich serves :to/control create a pressure. l' air chamber 26 is on top of the assembly, thereby preventing the air entrapped in the chamber aezasec the inlet I9 in the manner hereinafter set forth. The tip 56 and nose 48 of the valve stem, when inserted in bore I2, extend through apertures in metal Washer 52 and flexible washer 53 and through the inlet I9 of the casing beyond flange I8. As the diameter of the nose 48 of the valve stem 26 is slightly greater than the diameter of the aperture in the flexible washer 53, a tight seal will result, eifectively closing the inlet I9. The aperture in the metal Washer 52 is larger than the aperture in the ilexible washer 53 in order to prevent undue friction or binding of the valve stem nose as it is pushed therethrough.

A coil spring 54 encompassing the valve stem 26 and pressing at one end against metal washer 52 and at its other end against metal washer 43, serves to retain ilexble washer 53 which is coaxial with metal washer 52, against flange I8 and also normally holds the plunger` assembly 23 `in valve closing position, with the nose 48 of the thereon by a gland or collar 51 having a threaded periphery which coacts with the internal threads I5. The gland 51 and washer 56 encompass the plunger rod 24 and washer 56 limits the longitudinal sliding movement of plunger assembly 23 when plunger piston 38 abuts thereagainst under the urging of coil spring 54, as shown in Fig. 3.

Assembly and operation To assemble the device, the plunger assembly 23 is first put together outside the casing II as follows: Plunger piston 38 is placed over the reduced portion 33 of valve body 25 and then the reduced root end 28 of plunger rod 24, which had previously been passed through gland 51 and washer 56, is threaded into threaded end 3| of bore 32 of the Valve body. Shoulders 30 and 35 of the plunger rod 24 and the valve body 25, respectively, thereby firmly clamp the plunger piston 38 therebetween. is then placed around reduced portion 34 of the valve body and the threaded reduced end 40 of valve stem 26 with washer 43 thereon, is threaded into the bore 32 of valve body 25, the shoulder 36 of the valve body and washer 43 which abuts I against shoulder 42 of the valve stern 26 firmly y through end I3 of the casing into bore I2 so that the tip of the valve stem 26 extends beyond flange I8 and the metal washer 52 abuts against the other end of the coil spring. Gland 51 is then threaded into threaded opening I5 at the front I3 of the casing to retain the plunger assembly in the bore I 2.

To use the valve assembly, it is threaded at I6 upon a pipe 59 leading from a tank or container 50 of liquid soap which is preferably elevated to The valve is so installed that Outlet closure piston 39 from escaping. When actuating head 21 is initially pressed, it will bring annular groove 5I on nose 48 into alignment with Washers 52 and 53 and ange I8, as shown in Fig. 4 and thus open inlet I9 and permit the liquid soap which is under pressure due to the head created by the elevated container, to enter into the body of the casing. As the liquid soap is under pressure, it will ll supply chamber 55 and flow through bores 41 and 46 into bore 32 and through bore 45 in the valve body to ll the discharge chamber 31, and also flow into the air chamber 20 partially lling the latter and compressing the air therein. As in the position shown in Fig. 4, the outlet 22 is still sealed by piston 39, the contents of the discharge chamber will not be expelled.

Continued pressure on the actuating head 21 will bring the plunger assembly 23 to the end of its forward stroke, as shown in Fig. 5, as limited by the abutting of shoulder 49 at the root end of the nose 48 of the valve stem against metal washer 52. In this position, the nose 48 of the valve stem will close inlet I9 and the volume of the supply chamber 55 will be reduced by the movement of piston 39, .thus further compressing the air in the air chamber 20. As the discharge chamber 31 has been brought into juxtaposition with outlet 22, the compressed air in the air chamber 26 which exerts pressure on the contents of the discharge chamber 31 through supply chamber 55, bores 41. 46, 32 and 45, will force a quantity of liquid from the discharge chamber through outlet 22.

The longer the actuating head is depressed the f greater the amount of liquid will be ejected,

limited however to the amount of liquid in the discharge chamber 31, bores 41, 46, 32 and 45, the supply chamber 55 and in the air chamber 20, that can be forced out by the compressed air ln the air chamber 20. As the inlet I9 is sealed by nose or plunger stem 48 of the valve stem, only such liquid as is in the body of the casing can be dispensed and none escapes into pipe 59.

When the actuating head is released, the tensed coil spring 54 will return the plunger assembly to the position of Fig. 3. As the piston 39 moves to seal outlet 22, it also enlarges the supply chamber 55 and a partial vacuum is thereby created therein which will suck any liquid remaining in the discharge chamber 31 and inlet 22 back into the supply chamber 55. As piston 39 passes over outlet 22 it will quickly seal the latter, thereby preventing any liquid that should remain in the outlet 22 from leaking. Thus the annoyance and waste due to dripping between periods of use is obviated. When annular groove 5I again comes into juxtaposition with washers 52 and 53 and flange I8 and opens inlet I9, the combined action of the pressure on the liquid from container 60 and the partial vacuum ln the supply chamber 55 will quickly cause a new supply of liquid to be forced into the body of -the casing. thus readying the valve for the next use. At the end of the return movement of the plunger stem, it again seals the outlet I9.

It is to be noted that even if the valve should not be used for some time and the liquid soap therein should harden, it is a relatively simple matter to remove the entire valve assembly from the front of the device Without the need for access to the rear of the dispenser or removal even of the valve casing I I. By simply unscrewing collar 51, the entire plunger assembly 23 may be Withdrawn from bore I2, and as readily restored after cleaning or repair.

Although" the' devicel is especially suitable' for dispensingv liquid soap', it can alsov bel used with juices; syrups, oilsy or any' other liquids of like viscosity where it is d'esirablet'o'limit the amount eject-'edl atV- each use.

As` many changes could be made in the' above construction; and'many apparentlyl Widely diii'erent embodiments ofv this invention couldv be made without departing' from-the scope of theclaims, it is' intended` that all matter contained in the above descriptionl or shown iny the accompanying" drawings shallf be interpreted as'villustrative and not in ai limiting sense.

Having thus` described myA invention what I claima-s new and desire tosecureby Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A valveL assembly for dispensing liquids', said valve-assembly'comprising a casing havingfa longitudinal boretherethroughy said bore having an inletto asource of liquid-and an outlet', a plunger assembly slidably mounted in said bore, means on said plungerl assembly to control'said inlet and outlet, a spring normally retaining` said plunger assembly in inlet and outlet closed position, a supply cham-ber' in said bore defined by said plunger assembly and said inlet, an air chamber in said casing having a port leading intosaid supply chamber, a discharge chamber in said-bore deiined by said plunger assembly, means affording communication between said supply chainber and said discharge chamber, said plunger assembly being constructed and arranged to open said inlet to enable liquid to flow into said supply chamber and said discharge chamber and to compress the air in said` air chamber while still retaining said outlet in closed position, and to close said inlet', open said outlet and! provide access thereto from said dischargechamber, whereby thecompressed' air in said airV chamber may forcibly eject the contents of saiddischarge chamber from said outlet.

2. A valvel assembly for dispensing'li'quids, said valve assembly comprising a substantially cylindrical casing' having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough with anoutlet therefrom, an air chamber in said casing having a port leading into said bore, means in said bore near the rear end of said casing defining an inlet thereto, a gland removably aflixedin said bore at the-front end of said casing, a plunger assembly slidably mounted in said bore and extending through said gland and beyond said inlet and retained in said bore by said gland, means on said plunger assembly near` the rear end thereof controlling said inlet, means on said plunger assembly near the front' end thereof controlling said outlet, said control means being rigidly connected with` respect to each other, acoil spring'v inA said bore encompassing said plunger assembly and normally retaining the latter in inlet and outlet closed position, an actuating headon the front end of said plunger assembly whereby the latter maybe forced into said bore. against the tension ofsaid spring successively to opensaid inletclose said inlet and open said outlet.

3. The combination set forth in. claim 2 in which the means in said borek deining an inlet thereto comprises an annular flange unitary with said-bore, a resilient washer seated on said ilange, and a rigid washer seated on said resilient washer, said spring pressing againstv said rigid washer and retaining the latter and said resilient washer against said iiange.

4".- A valvel assembly for dispensingliquids; said valve'. assembly comprising a substantially4V cylindrical casing; having; ai boreV extei'niing;V longitudinally'VA therethrough: with.l an` outlet therefrom. means'inlzsaid bore near; thereai:v end off: said". cas,- ing. definingv anf inletl thereto, an' air chambenf in saidt casing: having,` a: port leading, into said, bore, alu-gland removably affixecl.. inl saidf. borefat-e the front end of said-casing, a substantially'cylindril cal-plungerassembly'slidablymountedrinsaid-bore andf: retained therein` by`r saidf. gland.:A saidy plunger assemblyl comprisingv a valvey stern extending through fand.V beyond: said inlet, having aiperiph.- eral groove: therein and -controlling said..i i-nletp a valve biodyZ rigidly connectedf thereto and, a plunger rodfconnected tolse-id valve-:body and ex:- tending through. saidl gland.v means/jini saidv valve body to;y controlsaid outlet,, a. coil, spring; in said bore: encompassing said. valve stem. and .normally retaining the-.latter in inlet closed; position` with said.- peripheral grooveispacedLfrom, said;inlet: and the means. on saidv valvabodyf in outlet,v closed position, an actuating, head onftheffrontT endl of said plungerV rodwhereby said plunger assembly may be forced into said bore againstitheYV tension of vsaid spring successively to open saidinlet. compress the air in said air chambenclose. said inlet and open said outlet, whereby the compressedI air in. said` air chamber can-force theY liquidZ in the bore through the outletf 5-.. A V valve` assembly for dispensing: liquids,v.,said valve assembly comprising a casing having a longitudinal bore therethrough of enlarged diameter with an. outlet therefromand threaded atbothn ends of the bore forming` a.y shoulder at theA front end` thereof, an annular. flange-in said bore.` unitary with said casingA at the, rear end of said boreA and. defining` an. inlet.- thereto,L a plunger assembly slidably mounted-in said bore, said plunger assembly comprising a valve stem having a. peripheral groove therein., a resilient washer seated on saidflange and. snugly encompassing. said valve stem, a. valve body connected to said Valve stem at oneend, thereof', apistony afiixed'- to each end. of said--valve body and delining a discharge chamber` therebetween, a supply chamber in said-bore betweenzsaid resilient washer andy one ofsaid' pistons,` means.y aording communication between: said= discharge chamber and saidsupply chamber, an air chaniberr inf said casing having a. port leading into said supplychamber, a spring encompassing said valve stem,v andy normally retaining the latter in inlet closing positionA and retaining saidf las-t named piston in outlet. closing position, aplunger rod. connected tb; the

.freer end of said valve; body andL extending from said casing,v` a washer encompassing saidlplungerV rod and seated onrsaid: shoulder, an externally. threaded gland encompassing said plunger rod and coacting with; the threaded; fronty end; of said bore4 to retain saidv WasherY ont. said; seat, thereby to retain-said plunger assembly inI said bore, said; lastl named piston: and. said annular groove.- being so spaced. from each1 other with respect to'- the inlet and outlet tha-t` inward; movement of said plunger rod` will; rst. bring, said annular groove in juxtaposition tosaid annular flange and said. resilient Washer tof openi said inlet while still retaining said piston; oversaid outlet, thereby lling the supply chamber and discharge chamber and compressing` the air. in said air chamber, continued movementI ofV said plunger rod again` closing sa-idinletA and moving said piston` away from said.outlet-thecom pressed airr in saidv air. chamber thereuponr ejecting the contents of. said discharge. chamber..

mn-r. l. 7

6. A valve assembly for dispensing liquids, said valve assembly comprising a. substantially cylindrical casing having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough with an outlet therefrom, an air chamber in said casing having a part leading into said bore, an inlet in said casing near the rear end thereof, a gland removably aflixed in said bore at the front end of said casing, a plunger assembly slidably movable in said bore, extending through said gland and retained in said bore by said gland, a plunger stem on said plunger assembly near the rear end thereof and extending through said inlet to control the latter, means on said plunger assembly near the front end thereof controlling said outlet. a coil spring in said bore encompassing said plunger assembly and normally retaining the latter in inlet and outlet closed position, an actuating head on the front end of said plunger assembly whereby the latter may be forced into said bore against the tension of said spring successively to open said inlet, close said inlet, and

open said outlet.

7. A valve assembly for dispensing liquids, said valve assembly comprising a casing having a longitudinal bore therethrough with an outlet therefrom, an annular flange in said bore unitary with said casing at the rear end of said bore and defining an inlet thereto, a plunger assembly slidably mounted in said bore, said plunger assembly comprising a valve stem having a peripheral groove therein, a resilient washer seated on said flange and snugly encompassing said valve stern, a pair of pistons aiiixed on said plunger assembly and defining a discharge chamber therebetween, a supply chamber in said bore between said resilient washer and one of said pistons, means affording communication between said discharge chamber and said supply chamber, an air chamber in said casing having a port leading into said supply chamber, a spring encompassing said valve stem and normally retaining the` latter in inlet closing position and said last named piston in outlet closing position, means to move said plunger assembly in said bore against the tension of said spring, said last named piston and said annular groove being so spaced from each other with respect to the inlet and outlet that inward movement of said plunger assembly will rst bring said annular groove in juxtaposition to said annular ilange and said resilient washer to open said inlet while still retaining said last named piston over said outlet, thereby enabling said supply chamber and said discharge cham- 'ber to ll and compressing the air in said air chamber, continued inward movement of said plunger assembly again closing said inlet and moving said last'named piston away from said outlet, the compressed air in said air chamber thereupon ejecting the contents of said discharge means in said 4bore near the rear end of said casing defining an inlet thereto, said means comprising-'an annular flange unitary with said bore, a

resilient washer seated on said flange, an air chamber in said casing having a port leading into said bore, a gland removably aillxed in said bore at the front end of said casing, a substantially cylindrical plunger assembly slidably mounted in said bore and retained therein by said gland, said plunger assembly comprising a valve stem extending through and beyond said resilient washer and flange and having a peripheral groove therein, a valve body connected to said valve stem and a plunger rod connected to said valve body and extending through said gland, means on said valve body to control said outlet, a coil spring in said bore encompassing said Valve stem, positioned between said resilient washer and the means on said valve body and normally retaining said valve stem in inlet closed position with said peripheral groove spaced from said inlet; and with the means on said valve body in outlet closed position, an actuating head on the front end of said plunger rod whereby said plunge;` assembly may be forced into said bore against the tension of said spring to successively bring said peripheral groove on said valve stem into alignment with said resilient washer, to open said inlet and compress the air in said air chamber, and thereupon to close said inlet and open said outlet whereby the compressed air in said air chamber may eject the liquid in the bore through said outlet.

9. A valve assembly for dispensing liquids, said valve assembly comprising a substantially tubular casing having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough with an outlet therefrom, means in said bore near the rear end of said casing denning an inlet thereto, an air chamber in said casing having a port leading into said bore, a gland removably affixed in said bore at the front end oi' said casing, a substantially cylindrical plunger assembly slidably mounted in said bore and retained therein by said gland, said plunger assembly comprising a valve stem extending beyond said inlet and controlling the latter, said valve stem having a peripheral groove therein, a valve body connected to said valve stem and a plunger rod connected to said valve body and extending through said gland, said valve body having reduced portions at each end thereof, an outlet control piston afxed on one of said reduced portions, a plunger piston affixed on the other of said reduced portions, said pistons being of greater diameter than said valve body and defining a discharge chamber therebetween, means affording communication between said air chamber and said discharge chamber, a coil spring in said bore encompassing said valve stem and-normally retaining the latter in inlet closed position with said peripheral groove spaced from said inlet, and said outlet control piston in outlet closed position with said piston positioned over said outlet, an actuating head on the front end of said plunger rod whereby said plunger assembly may be forced into said bore against the tension of said spring successively to bring said peripheral groove into alignment with said inlet to open the latter and compress the air in said air chamber, to move said peripheral groove away from said inlet to close the latter and to move said outlet control piston away from said outlet to open the latter thereby enabling the compressed air in said air chamber to eject the contents of said discharge chamber from said outl0. A valve assembly for dispensing liquids, said valve assembly comprising a substantiallv cylindrical casing having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough with an outlet therefrom, an air chamber in said casing having a port leading into said bore, an inlet in said casing near the rear end thereof, said inlet comprising an annular flange unitary with said bore, a resilient washer seated on said flange, a gland removably aixed in said bore at the front end of said casing, a plunger assembly slidably mounted in said bore extending through said gland and retained in said bore by said gland, a plunger stem on said plunger assemb-ly near the rear end thereof, having a peripheral groove therein and extending through said inlet to control the latter, means on said plunger assembly near the front end thereof movable over said outlet to control the latter, a coil spring in said bore encompassing said plunger assembly and normally retaining the latter in inlet and outlet closed position with said peripheral groove spaced from said inlet and said means on said plunger assembly positioned over said outlet,

10 and retaining said resilient washer against said ange, an actuating head on the front end of said plunger assembly whereby the latter may be forced into said bore against the tension of said spring successively to move said pehipheral groove into alignment with said inlet to open the latter, to move said peripheral groove away from said inlet to close the latter and to move said means on said plunger assembly away from said inlet to open the latter.

BURDETTE B. GILMORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 345,253 Northey July 6, 1886 1,556,149 Koppelman Oct. 6, 1925 1,819,381 Palmer Aug. 18, 1931 2,184,439 Schwarcz Dec. 26, 1939 

